About harper

Becoming an entrepreneur was something I always knew I would do. 

I had eight jobs in the first ten years of my career because I wasn’t willing to settle; I wasn’t willing to lose an opportunity to take things up a notch for myself. Even though I longed to be an entrepreneur, I didn’t know what my business would look like. So I kept saying yes to the seemingly amazing job opportunities that presented themselves, knowing that I would be an entrepreneur one day, when I was ready.

The intersection of work and play has always intrigued me and has led me to find unique ways to merge my hobbies and interests with my career. From music to beauty, social good to health and wellness, I spent ten years leveraging brands through marketing, public relations, event production, and social media. I worked at brands like Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Avon, tech-startup Buddy Media (which was acquired by Salesforce), and agencies working with clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Disney, Ann Taylor, Coty Beauty, Mally Beauty and David Kirsch.

In 2012, I was running the social media team at a beauty pr firm and suddenly couldn’t breathe. I’d walk a few blocks in Manhattan and up two flights of stairs to my apartment and immediately collapse. Something wasn’t right. After several months of medications, inhalers and lots of testing, my doctors discovered I had a cyst the size of a golf-ball in my right lung.

I could no longer ignore the rare immune deficiency I was diagnosed with at 10-years old. I had surgery to remove ¼ of my right lung on March 5, 2012. It was the darkest and scariest time in my life. I went on medical leave from my job for two months, returned, and recognized the importance of working a job that I was fulfilled by.

My current job wasn’t it.

I decided to seek out a career coach — someone who could help me navigate a career transition and get clarity on what it was that I wanted to do. I had no idea what I wanted, I just knew I needed to get out of my current toxic work environment. My coach supported me as I explored different avenues and in October 2012, I found myself working at an event production and brand strategy firm that works specifically with mission-driven brands and nonprofits. As managing director at Agent of Change, I turned ideas into action through live events for the company's clients, which included the David Lynch Foundation, Headstrong Project, Team Rubicon, Bent on Learning, and the Lower Eastside Girls Club.

While working at my last full-time job, three major things happened.

I met many individuals in the personal development space.

I recognized what I had been doing my whole life was coaching people. I didn’t have the title nor was I charging for it — but I was serving as a coach to my family, friends, colleagues and friends of friends.

I enrolled in the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.

In early 2014, I enrolled in IPEC, a coaching training program. In November, things shifted and I was able to freelance for the company as I launched my business.

I started taking control of my health and lifestyle.

I became more conscious of the food I eat, began practicing yoga, learned Transcendental Meditation (TM) and started listening to my body and what it needs on a given day.

My innate ability to inspire, motivate, and drive people in the direction of their dreams made this transition a smooth one, and as my friends say, “Harper is finally getting paid for what she’s been doing naturally and so well for her entire life!

I launched my business as a lifestyle management coach, switched to a career transition coach, and ultimately found my niche as a business coach for individuals who are 0-5 years into launching their business. Working with many different types of clients helped me determine what I enjoyed doing the most, and that’s working with individuals who want to live, work, and earn on their own terms.

In July 2018, I found a new way to merge my interests with my career. I launched Made Visible, a podcast that shines a light on invisible illnesses. I’ve always been an avid podcast listener, but I never imagined that hosting my own podcast would be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It’s so incredible to talk to people who experience invisible illness in all kinds of different ways: as patients, as caregivers, and as family members. I’m blown away by the stories my guests share, and I hope that the podcast is making a real difference in raising awareness about invisible illnesses. It’s hard to believe that, less than ten years ago, I was still hiding the fact that I even had one.

I’m based in New York City (where I grew up) and escape the winter to Tel Aviv. I love traveling to different cities around the world to connect with friends, see live music, and visit incredible restaurants. I am constantly on the hunt for the best Israeli food outside of Tel Aviv (follow along at @TLVINNYC on Instagram). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle remains a priority for me and I support my clients in doing this in their own way too.

I often remind myself (and my clients) of the Jim Rohn quote, ‘Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.’

I try to live by this philosophy, remembering that my mind is an important part of my body, too. To be my best, I have to listen to both my body and mind. Were it not for my business, my podcast, and the lifestyle I’ve created, I would not be able to focus on my health or happiness nearly as much.

 When I found entrepreneurship, I was more than ready for my life to change — and it did.